Switch-stand



A. K. MANSPIELD. Switch Stand.

No. 227,372. Patented May 11, Isso.v

Z W .un y S un k With/ass@ UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT K. MANSFIELD, OF STEUBENV ILLE, OHIO.

SWITCH-STAN D.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 227,372, dated May 11,1880.

Application filed January 8, 1880.

To all lwhom it 'may concer/n Be it known that I, ALBERT K. MANSEIELD,of Steubenville, in the county of Jefferson and State of Ohio, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Switch-Stands for Safety-Switches, of which the following' is a specification.

The invention relates to the apparatus known as the switch-stand, and toits combination with that class of railroad-switches known as split7switches.

Heretofore such switches have been made safe for trains to run throughby means of springs, which hold the switch-rails against the main rails,or by an indirect arrangement consisting of a switch-stand having aweighted lever connected with a movable guard-rail, the latter, when theswitch is misplaced, being acted upon by the wheels of the train, and inits turn acting on the stand which throws the switch. v

The first method has the objection that the switch is opened and closedby each pair of wheels in the train; also, that in case of anyobstruction between the switch-rail and main rail the switch is left ina dangerous position without it being so indicated at the switchstand.The second method is objectionable on account of its complication ofparts, and consequent expense and liability to disarran gement.

The object of my invention is to secure increased safety and lesscomplication of parts in safety-switches.

The invention consists in the peculiar construction of the switch-standand in its direct conuection'with the switch.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of the switch-stand, and Fig.2 `a plan of the stand in connection with the switch.

R R are the switch-rails; M M, the rails of y the main track and siding,against which the switch-rails t. S is the switch-stand, holding avertical and ahorizontal shaft, on which are the bevel-gears G Gr. Onthe horizontal shaft is also a lever, L, holding a weight, W, on itsend, and on the vertical shaft a signal or target, T, consisting of fourblades placed ninety degrees apart, as shown in the plan. The gear onthe vertical shaft, which may be a segment, is used also as a crank, apin through its plate connecting'it, by means of the connecting-rod andthe bent rod A B C,

with the switch. The connecting-rod is arranged in this way in order tomake a double connection with the switch to stiffen the switch at andnear its point. The rod A B O may be in one piece or two, whichever ismost convenient.

The switch is opened and closed by throwing the weighted lever over orback through a half-revolution. As the gears are two to one, this causesthe vertical shaft to make a quarter of a revolution, which turns thesignal about to indicate that the switch is set for siding or maintrack, as the case may be.

The motion of the weighted lever being at right angles to that oftheswitch, it offers less obstruction to train-men when the stand is placedbetween tracks than if the motion were in any other direction.

In the drawings the switch is set for the siding. If a train moves alongon the main track in the direction indicated by the arrow, the firstpair of wheels of the train acts upon the switch, the lia-nge of one ofthem acting against the main rail on one side and the flange of theother acting against the switchrail on the other side. In this way theweighted leveris brought-to a vertical position, after which, infalling, it helps to throw the switch the remainin g distance, and thetrain passing leaves the switch set for the main track.

If the switch were set for the main track and the train was moving offthe siding in the direction 0f the arrow, the wheels would throw theswitch in a contrary direction in a similar manner.

What I claim isl. The combination, in a switch-stand, of a verticalsignal and crank-shaft with a horizontal weighted lever-shaft,substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. The combination of the V-formed connecting-rod with switch-stand andswitch, the free ends of said V being connected to the switch-rails andthe apex thereof to the operating mechanism, all substantially asdescribed.

ALBERT K. MANSFIELD.

Witnesses GEO. L. MANsEIELD, LINUS FAUNCE.

